Automatic feeding device



July 4, 1939. e. sP|Ess 2,165,160

AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE Filed June 28, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor:

July 1939. G. SPIESS AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE Filed June 28, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 4, 1939.

G. SPIESS AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE Filed June 28, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z/ 2 /6 2/ 23 26 24 29 Z5" M -F [j r L Q 1" v 27 3 as 30 3/ Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES QUTO MATIC FEEDING DEVICE Georg Spiess, Leipzig, Germany Application June 28, 1937, Serial No. 150,811 In Germany July 6, 1936 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for automatically feeding sheets of pauper, cardboard, etc., from-a pile to working machines, such as folders, printing machines, etc.

Rhythmically operating sheet feeders areknown which can be adjusted for overlapping stream feed or for advancing the sheets one behind the other in spaced relation by Varying the speed of the sheets when separated from the pile by means of a speed change gear provided in the drive of the conveyor roller.

There are also non-rhythmically operating sheet feeders known to the art, in which the sheets are fed one behind the other and without keeping up a certain working rhythm to'a working machine by means of continuous suction wheels, suction rollers, etc. The invention has for its object to permit the optional employment of .both known feeding i310 methods, 1. e. of the rhythmical method for separating and feeding the sheets at stated periods and of the non-rhythmical method for feeding sheets in such manner that they follow one another without a definite spacing. The construction according to the invention is particularly welcome if a sheet feeder has to feed rhythmically and non-rhythmically operating machines or for instance folders which partly operate rhythmically and partly non-rhythmically. The problem of adapting the feeder to either method is solved by employing a continuously rotating suction roller as sheet separating means, which can be adjusted for continuous or rhythmically starting and stopping suction. In case of continuous suction, directly after the rear edge of a sheet has passed the suction roller, the following sheet is set in motion, and it solely depends upon the position of the suction roller relative to the surface of the flat or round pile whether the sheets are fed in overlapping relation or advanced so as to directly follow one upon the other. i The displaceable arrangement of the suction roller above the pile surface in feeding direction, or the provision of several suction rollers one behind the other, with one of them selectively used for sheet separation insure'continuous feeding, so that the sheets either follow one another directly or overlap at will.

In rhythmically feeding the succession of sheet separations is timed by controlling the suction of the roller from a control shaft, and it depends again upon the arrangement of the suction roller to the pile surface whether the sheets are fed one behind the other at any spacing or in a continuous stream with any overlapping." Since for single sheet feeding, correspond ng to the speed of the I ratio of speed of the feeding means for the working machine and the feeder.

By way of example,one form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of the device; Fig. 2, a plan of the general arrangement; Fig. 3, a diagrammatic plan of the gearing of the feeding device with the gear members shown in the same plane in conveying order; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a detail.

In the construction shown the feeding device is shown in connection with a folding machine, in which above the roller feed table I of a buckling folder 2 a preliminary blade folder 3 for rhythmical operation is arranged and the transfer table 4 of the feeding device can be selectively adjusted for passing the sheets either to the table 5 of the folder 3 Working in step or to the table I of the buckling folder 2. When the sheets are supplied to the folder 3, they must be fed in accordance with the working rhythm of this folder, whilst direct supply to the table I of the folder 2 permits feeding of the sheets in any desired order, as the operation of the buckling folder 2 does not involve a certain rhythm.

The feeding device employs a bank device, comprising a top stock table 6 on which the straightened pile is placed, the end guide roller 1 with the guide bands 8 and the lower table 9 from which the sheets are taken and passed to the conveying means of the feeder. In known manner, means for automatically feeding the bank as required are provided. That end of the bank device at which the guide roller *1 is arranged is supported by straps III on frame pillars Illa, and the other end is connected to the bearing walls I I resting on supports I2. 1n the bearing walls II a reversing drum I3 with the associated bands I4 is disposed by means of which the sheets advanced on the lower table 9 pass to the intermediate table 4 the conveying means of which conduct the sheets either to the table 5 of the folder 3 or to the table I of the buckling folder 2.

In the bearing walls I I a suction roller I5 is fur- 'ther positioned in such manner that it is located Z at a suitable distance above the lower pile table 9 shortly behind the point of the uppermost and foremost sheet of the bank, By means of a worm gear l6, Fig. 3, a shaft is driven from the sucond suction roller H is driven by the shaft I1.

This roller I9 is supported by brackets 20 which are displaceably and fixedly arranged on supporting rods 2| in conveying direction.

Fig. 3 indicates by arrows the movability of the suction roller [9. The suction roller I5 is driven by means of the toothed wheels 22, 23, 24, from the shafthf the conveying roller 26 which is disposed in front of thereversing drum l3, the roller 26 being in driving connection with a uni-directional revolving shaft 21. The shaft of the conveying roller 26 supports two sliding gears 28, 29 of different diameter which alternately can mesh with corresponding toothed wheels 30, 3| on the control shaft 21.

The toothed wheel 25, by means of a toothed wheel 32 loosely disposed on the control shaft 21, drives a toothed wheel 33 positioned on the shaft of the reversing drum I3 and driving through the medium of the intermediate wheels 34, 35 a. toothed wheel 31 arranged on the shaft of a tape roller 36 of the intermediate table 4. From the shaft of the tape roller 36 a tape roller I of the table of the blade folder 3 is driven by means of the bevel gear 36, the shaft 39, the bevel gear 40, the shaft 4| and the gears 42, 4 3

44. The gear 43 is loosely mounted on shaft Furthermore, by means of the shaft 4| and'a triple sliding gear comprising the wheels 45, 46

a shaft 41 is driven which through a pair of bevel wheels 48, a shaft 49, a pair of spur gears 56, 5|, a shaft 52, the bevel gears '53, a shaft 54 and spur gears 55, 56, 51 drives two corivgying rollers 58, 59 and also in connection therew th the oblique rollers of the table I of the buckling folder 2.

- The control shaft 21 supports the means for controlling the operations which in rhythmical sheet feeding must occur at definite periods. Thesemeans comprise a cam 69 for controlling a shut-01f in the air piping of the suction rollers and a member 6| for controlling a sheet drawing device for .lateral straightening on the table of the rhythmically operating folder 3.

Fig. 4 illustrates the first of'the above means and as both are substantially identical but one need be described. The cam 66 engages a roller 62 freely mounted on the end 63 of a slide valve stem 16. The valve stem 16 is slidably mounted in a transverse channel 1| of a casing 69 which is interposed between the adjacent ends of suction pipes 66, 61, the latter of which is connected to the hollow axle 68 of the suction roller l5. A spring 65 which surrounds a portion of the valve stem 10 has one end abutting against a collar 64 of the stem, and the other end abutting against dered inoperative and air control is started ,by

means of the cam 60. Simultaneously, the pair of wheels 29, 3| are brought into engagement to the feeding means are correspondingly retarded.

according to whether single or overlapping feeding is to be carried out.

Non-rhythmical feeding is unaffected by the gear ratio at the control shaft 21 and the other gears. If drive is not effected through the control shaft it can be fully stopped. The provision of the sliding gear 45, 46 permits gradation of the output of the working machine relative to that of the feeder.

In the construction shown a sheet retarding device is not provided, inasmuch as in feeding a folder, and particular blade folder of the type mentioned, retardation of the sheets is not so important as for instance in supplying printing machines. It is evident, however, that in rhythmical feeding the drive of the conveying means may be provided with a retarding gear which {operates either in single feeding during use of the pair of wheels 29, 3| or also when employing the pair of wheels 28, 30 for overlapping feeding.

1. A device for automatically feeding sheets of paper or the like from a pile to a sheet working machine, including a uni-directional rotating control shaft for driving said device, conveying means for said sheets, means for separating said sheets from said pile, means for feeding said sheets in rhythmical order, means for alternatively feeding said sheets in non-rhythmical order, means for advancing said sheets in both spaced and overlapping order, and means for regulating said degree of overlapping.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said means for separating the sheets from the pile and transmitting them to said conveying means comprises a suction roller adjustable in the conveying direction withrespect to the pile surface and means for selectively operating said roller during each workingcycle with a continuous or an inter- 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said means for separating the sheets from the pile and prises a suction roller adjustable in the conveying direction with respect tothe pile surface and means for selectively operating said roller during each working cycle with a continuous or an intermittent suction, and means for varying the speed of the sheet feeding means relative to the speed of said control shaft from a maximum speed for spacedsheet feeding to a minimum speed for overlapping feeding, said suction roller being displaceably disposed in a conveying direction above said pile of sheets, and means for fixing said roller in any position.

transmitting them to said conveying means com-- 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said means for separating the sheets from the pile and transmitting them to said conveying means comprises a plurality of suction rollers arranged one behind the other, each roller being adjustable in a conveying direction to the pile surface, said rollers being selectively operable during each working cycle with a continuous or an intermittent suction and being individually and selectively engageable, and means for varying the speed of the sheet feeding means relative to the speed of said control shaft from a maximum speed for spaced sheet feeding to a minimum speed for overlapping feeding.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said means for separating the sheets from the pile and transmitting them to said conveying means comprises a suction roller adjustable in the conveying direction with respect to the pile surface and means for selectively operating said roller during each working cycle with a continuous or an intermittent suction, means for varying the speed of the sheet feeding means relative to the speed'of said control shaft from a maximum speed for spaced sheet feeding to a minimum speed for overlapping feeding, said suction roller being displaceably disposed in a conveying direction above the pile and having means for fixing the same in any position, and said means for non-rhythmical feeding including a speed change gear for adapting the output of the feeder to that of said machine.

GEORG SPIESS. 

